EU legislation on the use of blind spot mirrors came into force in April 2009 and requires all lorries built since 2000 to be equipped with EU standard mirrors. New models have been equipped with the new mirrors since 2006. The legislation is aimed at protecting cyclists and motorcyclists – around 400 lose their lives each year in European fatalities.

It is a necessary move: according to the European Commission’s own figures, about 400 people are killed each year across Europe a result of HGV blind spots – these include pedestrians, motorcyclists and cyclists.

Extracted from Commercial Motor